HΘMΣCΘMING

Homecoming is a live album by Beyoncé. It is the singers fifth live album and was recorded from her iconic headlining performance at the Coachella Valley Festival from the previous year (2018.) The album was a released along with a film of the performance and a behind the scenes look at the intense preparation for the two-night show, the film was released on Netflix. The album is a catalogue of Beyoncé’s hit throughout the years but what makes this album stand out from all the other live albums out there is that while it is all the classic hits that we all love, they sound like new songs. That is thanks to the way they were reimagined by adding a drum line, marching band and step dancers. 

Something that is clear throughout this entire album is the way Beyoncé has included her African American Culture into her hit songs. In the concert film, you can see that there is a strong influence from Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the performance and new versions of the songs. The presence of all black dancers and the inclusion of stepping (a type of dancing that was created in black fraternities and sororities with African dance influences.) There was also clear inspiration from New Orleans Jazz music which can be heard in “Welcome” the opening composition to the show played by the giant marching band that the singer had on stage with her, however in this one track there is a perfect combination between the new sound that Beyoncé is about the give her famous songs and the same R&B sound that the singer has always had. 

My top tracks from this album have got to be “Countdown,” “Sorry” and “Say My Name.” “Countdown” was already a classic hit with so much energy but in this album the energy is multiplied by a thousand and you can the energy of not just Beyoncé, but the whole crowd on this album. “Sorry” from the singers unforgettable “Lemonade” album was a track I thought could not be improved but the addition of the interlude in the middle of the track of Beyoncé talking to the crowd about empowering women and a stepping routine with an unforgettable chant made this song nothing short of extraordinary on this album. “Say My Name” is just an undeniable classic that makes this album everything anyone could’ve wished for because of a rare Destiny’s child reunion.

 I will say that if you are going to listen to this album you have to do it the right way and listen to it in order or watch the film because the way each song flows so effortlessly into the next is just one more thing that makes this album arguably the best live album that there is.